Peeling the Onion: Discovering the Layers of Health

Are you ready to have hot sexy summer? Sizzle…

Today we're kicking off our hot sexy summer series by talking about what a sexy summer is, what it means, how you can feel sexy, and what your sexy summer can look like when you take care of yourself. When we think of sexy, we often think of our appearance, our sex, or the intimacy in our lives, but sex really begins from within. 

You may not be feeling sexy due to health conditions or mental health issues, but we need to discuss it because everyone deserves to have a hot and sexy summer. Human beings have sexual desires, it's a natural part of being human. To satisfy those desires, we need to feel sexy. Sexy can be attached to your confidence even if you aren't having sexual contact with anyone. 

We're talking about keeping it hot today. Feeling good in our own skin. How we can regain our sense of sexiness. Being in tune with how your body feels can very easily help you feel like you are sexy in all aspects of life, including sex, relationships, and intimacy. 

No matter if you are in a relationship or not, this episode is for you. Getting sexy starts inside. The journey begins with our own beliefs about ourselves. Keep an open mind as you listen to this episode. The key is to give yourself the time and space to take care of your body and mind.

Your relationship with yourself is at the core of feeling good, and it is a key component of being sexy.

Get more information about the Peeling the Onion Podcast and your Hosts Cheryl and Nancy at https://www.peelingtheonionpodcast.com/

Instagram 

We are in the midst of spring and the pollen is in the air. We are all thinking about our allergies at this time of year. Today, Lena DeGloma of Red Moon Wellness in Brooklyn joins us to discuss all things related to supporting your body, managing allergy symptoms, and what you can use as an alternative to over-the-counter and prescription drugs.

The allergic symptoms are like the tip of an iceberg, where you have this cumulative effect. Even if you can identify that you are allergic to something, you may not necessarily be symptomatically allergic to that thing alone. There might be something under the surface that is causing that reaction. In an inflammatory state, it is easy for other things you do to cause a flare-up, even if it's not the item itself. 

Things like sleep, stress and the microbiome are so critical to keep functioning all year round because when we think about allergies. They have a cumulative effect. Then there is the threshold, which is like your symptom threshold. So many of us live just under the symptom threshold all year round with the food, stress, and environmental factors that are in our life every day. 

Herbalism is based on the connection between nature and the body. Many of the things our bodies need are created by plants. We can easily incorporate simple herbalism into our daily lives with chickweed, turmeric, and ginger.  We also have great herbal medicine in our kitchens, things that will target allergies. 

Here are a few plants that could help with your allergies: 

CHAMOMILE 

Have your allergies affect your eyes. Itchy, red, irritated, watery eyes are so annoying. To relieve this symptom, grab those camomile tea bags you have in your cupboard. Steep them and let them cool. Put them right on your eyes, as little mini eye compresses. 

Also, drinking for inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.

THYME

We can also find dried thyme in our kitchens. For allergy symptoms, you can also inhale the essential oil mixed with eucalyptus if you have it.  This helps with congestion. 

CALENDULA

Add a few drops of calendula oil that can help you find relief during an allergy flare.  Using dried flowers, pop them into a jar and pour olive oil or coconut oil over the top to create your own oils. Add enough to cover all of the plant matter in the jar. Ideally, you want to have at least an inch of oil over the surface, so you don't have any exposed parts.

Place it in a sunny window or a nice warm place. It will get infused with the warmth of the sun. Tip the head back and place one to three drops per nostril with the head tipped back. The drops will be dripping up into the nose and can also help if you get chronic sinus infections. I'll do the same for them. Chronic sinusitis can be caused by dryness, allergies, or by chronic fungi. 

MEET LENA

Lena is the founder and director of Red Moon Wellness in Park Slope, Brooklyn. She is a clinical herbalist, licensed massage therapist, certified birth doula, certified lactation counselor, and certified childbirth educator. Lena offers individual herbal consultations for adults and children at her clinical center in Park Slope. She began studying medicinal herbs 15 years ago, first through two apprenticeships (one at Alba Nueva herb farm in Costa Rica and another at the Heartstone Herbal School near Ithaca, NY)  then went on to receive a Master of Science in Clinical Herbal Medicine from Maryland University of Integrative Health (MUIH). She also completed a one-year post-graduate clinical internship at MUIH's Natural Care Center as well as an internship in the university's renowned herbal dispensary.

Hosts Cheryl and Nan

We are thrilled to have Lauren Zajac, MHS, PHD-C, speaking with us about skin. Let's dive deep into what our skin is telling us, the most common skin conditions, and the most common reasons for those conditions. Get your pen and paper ready, because this episode is full of great tips and tools to keep your skin looking young and healthy. 

Let’s start with the six most common causes of imperfect skin.

#1 Inflammation caused by a threat

The first is inflammation. Gut inflammation, skin triggers, UV, radiation, allergens, irritation, soap, and cosmic radiation could all contribute to skin inflammation. Among the gut, triggers are fungus, viruses, parasites, bacteria, histamines, toxins, food allergies, and food sensitivities, or intolerances. 

#2 Microbiome Disturbance

The second factor is disruption of the microbiome. Friendly bacteria in our gut are primarily lactobacillus and bifidobacteria. Also, there are many other factors that affect your microbiome, such as excess good and bad bacteria. We need all of these bacteria to be healthy, but they must be balanced. Microbiome disturbances simply mean that they have overgrown. 

#3 Oxidative Damage

The third is the oxidative damage caused by UV rays, which generate free radicals. It happens when the free radicals exceed the skin's natural antioxidant capacity because we all do have antioxidants in our skin, in our gut, but when it exceeds that level, that's when the damage occurs. When we think about our skin, we think of premature aging, sunburns, inflammation, and skin cancer. In that case, there aren't enough antioxidants to quench those free radicals. The internal oxidative damage occurs from both toxins and diet. 

#4  Blood Sugar Issues

Four. In terms of blood sugar issues, the cool posts are our primary source of energy. Consumed in excess, the body cannot utilize it all. As a result, it binds to collagen and elastin in our skin. The process of glycogen is what can cause skin damage, and most people are unaware of that. 

#5 Nutritional deficiencies

Fifth, nutritional deficiencies include our macronutrients, such as carbohydrates and proteins, and our micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals.In addition, 70% of our population is magnesium deficient. There are a number of minerals we're concerned about due to soil erosion, but especially iron and B vitamins such as B12 and B2. These lead to disruption of the skin. 

#6 Hormonal Imbalances

Finally, hormonal imbalances are the result of amino acids, cholesterol, and phospholipids found in our cells and biochemical messengers. Biochemical messengers allow the endocrine system to communicate with other parts of our body through their own messengers. There are also hormone imbalances in other parts of the body, especially in the adrenal glands, like DHA and cortisol, thyroid melatonin, and our sex hormones, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, they are truly imbalanced.

All of these make an impact on the skin.

Connect with Lauren - WEBSITE

REFERENCED:

BOOK: Clear Skin From Within 

Get more information about the Peeling the Onion Podcast and your Hosts Cheryl and Nancy at https://www.peelingtheonionpodcast.com/

Instagram 

Cheryl will be discussing your microbiome in today's solo episode. Even though it is a buzzword for some of you, maybe you've heard of it, maybe you haven't, it is important and an integral part of us all. She wanted to share with you what the microbiome is, the microbes living in it, and why they are important. Cheryl likes to talk about fermented foods (one of her favorite topics) as one way to take care of one's microbiome. 

“We are more microbes than human”

Microbes are everywhere. In addition to living in our mouths, our anus, our private bodies, and other parts of our bodies, they also live on our skin. In fact, they are our bodies' natural protectors, and we kill them too often. 

Our health is being threatened by hand sanitizers that remove good microbes. We need to take steps to ensure they are well-balanced on and in our bodies. We need to work on increasing our microbiomes. We can do things like play in the dirt outside. We can eat fermented foods. We can be cautious about what we put in and on our bodies. 

Since microbes regulate the gut, the gut is our first brain and the brain is actually our second brain. Consequently, what happens in the gut also happens in the brain and everywhere else in the body. Taking care of the gut means keeping those microbes intact and ensuring that our microbes are well-protected. You make neurotransmitters in your gut, so it's important to feed it fermented foods to replenish it. You might even feel the happy neurological effect when you eat ferments. So it's a win-win. 

Are you ready to peel the onion and get your hands dirty? Let’s dig into the microbiome.

Get more information about the Peeling the Onion Podcast and your Hosts Cheryl and Nancy at https://www.peelingtheonionpodcast.com/

Instagram 

Here are our top 10 digestion tips and tricks. A few are reminders, while others may be new to you. You have to love your guts, as you only get one set of them and they are your second brain. 

Eating Hygiene: You should chew your food until it is the consistency of applesauce. Take your time while eating. Chew your food at least forty times. Start small and progress. 

Eat real food: Whole real foods. Avoid frankenfoods, including beyond meats. Choose organic foods whenever possible. As well as adding fiber to our diets, real foods help our bodies digest food. 

Water is made up of four phases. Typically, we think of hydration as drinking water, but we can also get hydrated from the foods we eat. One of our favorite hydrating foods are apples.  Foods and water are a great way to hydrate. If you want to learn more, check out our interview with Dr. Dana Cohan HERE

Happy Movement| Exercise: Get your body moving. You can really improve your digestion and body by stretching, walking, and just getting up and moving around. Ensure you are limber and feeling good in your body. 

Consider a Fiber Drink: Fiber Drinks are a great way to keep things moving. A good quality product can be purchased at your local market or you can use what you already have in your pantry. . Having enough fiber can bulk up your poop and help sweep out your system of excess hormones. 

Good prebiotics and probiotics: Fermented foods are a great way to add these healthy bugs to your gut. As a result, you're actually getting prebiotics. Also they are providing you with digesting enzymes and making things more absorbable when you eat them.

Sleep Hygiene: Poor sleep hygiene can also affect digestion. Getting quality sleep each night and allowing your body to rest and recover is important. Sleep plays an important role in our digestion.

Manage Stress: In a fight or flight situation all day, your body will only digest during sleep, and if your sleep is interrupted, it won't get a chance to complete the digestion process. Stress can lead to many disorders or diseases. It is important to find ways to release the pressure of stress to keep your body processing food optimally.  Setting boundaries

Vitamin J (JOY): What brings your JOY? Do the things that are just for you. Take those small moments just for you. Digest and share your day.

Laughter: Take time to laugh and disconnect. Get outside and play. 

Get more information about the Peeling the Onion Podcast and your Hosts Cheryl and Nancy at https://www.peelingtheonionpodcast.com/

Instagram 

In today's episode, we continue our conversation about digestion as we go deeper into understanding the liver, gallbladder, pancreas, leaky gut parasites, and more. After all, we want to be as healthy as we can. We don't want to be suboptimal. Instead, we want to thrive and feel good. That's when the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas come into play, along with the stomach.

We process all of our sugars and carbohydrates in the pancreas, which is connected to the gallbladder and liver. It's a big part of our hormonal system. So we need all three of them to work together. They do get mucked up but you can take control and heal your digestion and in return, start to live a more energetic life. 

One thing we would like to break the stigma about is fat. We aren’t talking processed fats good healthy fats such as avocados and grass-fed butter and ghee and coconut oil that's cold press or avocado oil. This is the brain and gut food and a great source of energy. Not only is it great for our insides, but it’s great for our skin. Use healthy fats as a skin moisturizer that can be really helpful for things like eczema.

Our leaky gut prevents us from properly absorbing nutrients from our foods. That's where digestive enzymes come into play. I think this is the most important thing to note. Stress puts a strain on the body. In our minds, stress is often just like my day-to-day emotional stress, but really it can start in our digestion system. 

In addition, we often overlook the fact that toxicity may be caused by foods that don't work well with our bodies. We put our bodies under stress by not sleeping well. As a result. The integrity of our bodies is compromised. Stressing the body system isn't the only problem: the body is also intelligent and tries to clear the toxins through inflammation. However, when we're under that kind of stress, we become like a forest fire that we can't control.

Our idea of optimal nutrition is to eat a rainbow of food and then to ensure that our bodies can make the best use of it. When you realize that it does not run optimally, remember it can be repaired, but it isn't always a quick fix.

Get more information about the Peeling the Onion Podcast and your Hosts Cheryl and Nancy at https://www.peelingtheonionpodcast.com/

Instagram 

There is a great deal of interest in topics related to digestion, digestive health, and gut health at the moment. However, do we know how to love our guts? In this episode, we discuss three topics: loving your gut, anatomy, and physiology, eating hygiene, and digestive organs. This is the first episode of the Love Your Guts Series. 

Anatomy and physiology lesson in part one. Basically, we will quickly go through the body from top to bottom and remind ourselves of all the parts and their functions. Digestion actually begins long before the food is consumed. It is actually the act of smelling that is known as the cephalic phase. Maybe it's touching or seeing food. 

Do you ever walk into a building or a restaurant and the minute the good smells hit you and your mouth starts juicing up, that's our salivary amylase? Our mouth starts juicing up and kicking in that's full of enzymes. All this starts before the food even enters our mouth.

As discussed in part two, eating hygiene and how to chew your food will be discussed. There are certain practices and principles that can help support and improve digestion. The way you consume food is important.

Taking a break from screen time allows you to better connect with your food when eating. Your meals should be free of distractions and screen time. It is essential to sit down, slow down, and be mindful during the meal. An expression of gratitude should then follow. By allowing yourself this space, your body will be able to better absorb the nutrients that you are about to provide. 

Throughout Part 3, we will explore the anatomy of specific organs and how they function.

There are some myths about our gallbladder. We want to reiterate that you do very much need a gallbladder. It provides a critical part of digestion. 

The role of the pancreas. The pancreas assists the body in regulating glucose levels. The body regulates glucose in several ways, the pancreas is most significant. A key role is played by insulin and glucose. 

By understanding the digestion system you can peel back the layers of your onion as you embark on your health journey.

Keep your eyes peeled for part 2 of the Love your Guts Series. 

Get more information about the Peeling the Onion Podcast and your Hosts Cheryl and Nancy at https://www.peelingtheonionpodcast.com/

Instagram 

“Putting the Fun in Functional Doc” Dr. Dana Cohen

For over two decades, Dr. Dana Cohen has been on the leading edge of integrative and functional medicine, guiding thousands of patients through protocols that initiate cellular repair and restore balance to the body.

As a pioneer of a “human-first” approach to medicine, Dr. Cohen is renowned for her innovative and captivating lectures to physicians and health-conscious audiences alike. In her book Quench, beat fatigue, drop weight, and heal your body through the science of optimal hydration. And we drive deep into the conversation today about how hydration is the very essence of your health.

The benefits of proper hydration can have a dramatic effect on your health, your vitality, and your overall quality of life. We look forward to sharing Dr. Cohen’s expertise in the subject of healing with proper hydration and the proper way to keep your body running optimally. Secret: It’s not just about drinking your 8 glasses of water a day. There is so much more to being properly hydrated and it’s not hard to make the changes.

In our conversation today Dr. Cohen shares with us how to hydrate and three practical things we can do every day to promote wellness. You are going to love this episode and Dr. Dana as much as we did when you put these tools into place and start healing your body. 

Let’s peel back those layers of health.

ABOUT DANA:

Connect with Cheryl and Nancy

We are going to talk about weird stuff that works. Some of it might be outside your comfort zone but can be very helpful. There are so many different options to assist you on your wellness journey. Let’s get Woo Woo.

Breathing and Breath

The whole mouth taping intrigued Cheryl after she read the book Oxygen Advantage. TTT is the science behind mouth taping and this idea that when you aren't breathing through your nose and your body isn't getting the oxygen it needs, it goes into sympathetic overdrive. So you don't sleep well. When you're stressed, while you're sleeping, you're not healing. So mouth taping is about getting into a parasympathetic state of relaxation.

In Holotropic Breathwork, there are sitters and breathers. The practice is a partnership. I just started breathing heavily through my mouth. I took in as much air as I could and in rapid succession. Since I've done therapeutic hallucinogenic and holotropic breathing, I would say both were different experiences. However, they both led to some deep healing for me. It gave me the energy, the bandwidth, and the perspective to really work on myself. I think the self-worth component of this onion peeling is so critical.

Mantras

I started using mantras and I still do today. I think it's a good reminder as you're going through a season or a trial in your life, or you need something to get you out of bed every morning or whatever it is. I found them really helpful and they don't need to belong or be complicated, they can just be something simple. Like “Today, I'm going to get up knowing I'm awesome”. It's like holding space and manifesting what you want to see in yourself or the world. All you have to do is take the next step. 

Cheryl’s Nighttime Hacks

Blue light should be kept out of your sleep zone a couple of hours before bedtime. Ensure a good night's sleep. As much as possible, we also EMF-proofed our bedroom. It's the chill zone.  When I teach in the evenings, I wear my blue-blocking glasses to start that wind-down time and align my circadian rhythms. I would also say that going outside first thing in the morning and getting warning lights can help with those circadian rhythms as well.

Body Work

Cranial sacral therapy, Reiki, sound therapy and using tuning forks. All of these release blocked energy from your body and allow it to move smoothly. Blocked energy can be from physical or emotional trauma.

Colonic is derived from the word colon. A colon flush is performed using a gravity-fed water system and a highly skilled practitioner. This is not your everyday anima.

Yoni steam is a releaxing process that involves steaming your yoni, your vagaina. This offers many healing benefits and can help many women suffereing from diffeeerent types of aligment from child birth to endometriosis. 

What is dry brushing? The lymphatic system gets stimulated as we invigorate our nerves underneath the skin with a large dry brush. We're invigorating our lymphatic system, which is just going to move lymph and help us drain our system as a way of detox.

I'm going to say it a third time. It goes back to just really honing in on that self-worth and self care practice is just so important.

We used to think chiropractors were gimmicks, but they've been a huge part of our lives. You have to find a good chiropractor. It's amazing how they get to know your body and adjust it in a way that makes a difference.

 FAVOIRTE CHAKRA TUNING

Get more information about the Peeling the Onion Podcast and your Hosts Cheryl and Nancy at https://www.peelingtheonionpodcast.com/

Instagram 

Michelle Leotta is an amazing health coach and practitioner who is supporting people through her community, She’s got Power. And today we are talking about all things thyroid. What does it look like? How do we support it? And why we need to give it some extra love during this time in the world.

As we go into this reentry phase of the pandemic through post-pandemic we will need to focus more on our thyroid health. She is empowering women to take a deeper look at their health and teaching them how to approach their doctors to get the right tests. It’s important to be our own advocate for our health. 

Many of her clients are struggling with low energy, brain fog, and weight issues. But once they dig into their health and current symptoms they find support for the thyroid and changing their diet and lifestyle allows them to feel more alive and connected to themselves. 

Michelle has spent 10 years of her career helping women optimize their health. She has been featured on ABC News, CBC News, NPR, and more, while raising a family and moving all around the East coast, managing a popular podcast, and running two thriving businesses. 

Find out more about Michelle 

Grab the Free Maybe it’s your Thyroid ToolKit

Get more information about the Peeling the Onion Podcast and your Hosts Cheryl and Nancy at https://www.peelingtheonionpodcast.com/

Instagram